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Foreword

Australian and
U.S. Forces
Strengthening
Regional Security

Philippine and U.S. Forces Provide Disaster Relief for Typhoon Victims

International HIV/Aids Conference

Building Global Networks to Combat Security Threats

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Communications
The communications department aboard the USS Blue Ridge, the U.S. Navy’s Seventh Fleet command ship, provided around-the-clock voice, video, data, tactical, network, and messaging support for the exercise. “The CENTRIXS [Combined Enterprise Regional Information Exchange System] Block II, or CENTRIXS Four-Eyes [Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, United States], is a coalition network that allows U.S. and Australian personnel to contact not only the commander, Combined Task Force, but also other U.S. and Australian deployed land and sea units,” said U.S. Navy Lt. Kenneth Demick.

“CENTRIXS Four-Eyes [CFE] . . . also allows us to communicate with British and Canadian forces,” said U.S. Navy PO3 Mario Martinez-Negroni. Technicians aboard the USS Blue Ridge installed an Australian computer system called Mercury on the CFE network. “By installing the Mercury system, we’re able to connect our secure network here on the ship with the Australians’ secure network for direct e-mailing,” said U.S. Navy PO2 Javon Burden. “The CFE network is essentially the heart of the operation, and without it I really don’t think the exercise would [have been] a success.”

U.S. and Australian forces primarily used the Theater Management Battle Core System (TBMCS), which has three servers that aid in planning and executing air and land missions for the war games. “Since this exercise [was] being conducted with Australia, we had to redesign the whole TBMCS system,” said IST2(SW) Keyon Thompson. “After we re-designed it, we had to connect it to the CFE system, making TBMCS a joint system. All of those revisions effectively made our TBMCS system into a coalition network.”

“Trying to get familiarized with the TBMCS system was the most challenging hurdle to overcome,” said Australian Army Capt. Pat Brothers. “The exercise was great. It was a high-tempo, highly interactive operation in a real-life environment,” he said. “This being my first time on a ship, I definitely have a newfound respect for [U.S.] Navy personnel. Without the guys from the ship’s [communications] team providing 24-hour service, I really think it would have been a lot more difficult running and using the CFE network.”

The Mock Battle
The mock battle exercise began with 600 U.S. Army paratroopers jumping from U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster aircraft into Australia’s Shoalwater Bay Training Area during darkness after a 4,500-mile (7,200-kilometer) flight from Alaska, USA. Australian Air Force paratroopers jumped from C-130 aircraft soon after.

An amphibious insertion of Australian and U.S. forces soon joined the paratroopers. The training near the Great Barrier Reef tested interoperability between the two forces. Working together, the airborne and amphibious troops fought their way across 50 kilometers (about 31 miles) of rough terrain to reach their objective.

Commenting on the sea and air insertion near the Great Barrier Reef, Vice Adm. Greenert said, “These are very high-end, high-tech, and cutting-edge operations we’re seeing here today. I’m continually amazed at our troops’ ability to adjust, adapt, and work together.”

Meanwhile, Navy and Air Force pilots engaged in attacks and subsequently sank two decommissioned U.S. Navy ships brought in from Hawaii. The sunken vessels will serve as an artificial reef to help foster maritime life. The two navies also practiced ship-to-ship operations, anti-submarine warfare, and amphibious landings. About 26 U.S. and Australian ships participated.

During the course of TALISMAN SABER, Australian and U.S. forces tirelessly combined their efforts to perform more than 25 Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) trips and more than 1,300 MH-60S Knight Hawk and Australian S-70A Blackhawk helicopter takeoffs and landings.

Amphibious Operations
Arriving aboard the USS Boxer with Maj.-Gen. Kelly, Vice Adm. Greenert noted that the amphibious operations were the first with the Australian Army. He also pointed out that the highlight of the USS Boxer’s participation was the “innovative concept” of certifying Australian Army Blackhawk helicopters before the exercise, so they could operate from the Boxer’s flight deck during night and day operations. “They’re demonstrating airborne assault capabilities, which truly shows the interoperability of our forces,” he said.

The Australian helicopters aboard the USS Boxer flew the Australian troops aboard ship to selected landing zones for amphibious field training, vertical replenishments, and search-and-rescue drills. The aircrews made more than 1,200 takeoffs and landings exceeding 160 hours of flight time.

“Boxer is very different for us. We’re used to landing on small ships in very tight spots,” said Australian Army pilot Lt. Andre Smith. “It’s great working in a coalition environment . . . with other arms and learning how the United States does business.”